MOUNT OLIVE (Oct. 25) – Despite the crossbar being struck three times in the contest on Friday, the University of Mount Olive women's soccer program played to a scoreless draw against Lees-McRae in Conference Carolinas action at Amon Field.
With the draw, the Trojans move to 7-3-4 this season behind a 5-3-2 record in league play. The two sides met for the first time since playing in the first round of the Conference Carolinas Tournament in 2023. Both teams rank among the top seven in the league in the KPI rankings, which determines the seeding of the conference bracket. Meanwhile, the Bobcats stand at 7-2-3 overall with a 6-0-3 mark in conference action.
Mount Olive controlled possession in the opening minutes with four shots recorded, including an attempt by freshman
Rebecca Witkiewicz, which hit the crossbar in the sixth minute. Lees-McRae answered back on the offensive end as senior goalkeeper
Samantha Gildner was forced into four saves in a 13-plus minute span. The Trojans once again clipped the crossbar in the 24th minute following a shot by senior
Tianna Hill from just outside the box. Gildner collected two additional saves in the first half, as the match went into the break scoreless.
In the second half, UMO registered two shots in the initial five minutes before the Bobcats hit the crossbar on a free-kick opportunity at the 67:41 mark. The Trojans pressured the goal in the final minutes of the contest with three shots and one corner kick, but the match ultimately finished in a draw.
Gildner logged her third individual shutout of the season behind six stops in 90 minutes of play.
The Trojans held a 15-12 shot advantage while leading by a 5-3 margin in corner kicks.
Mount Olive returns to divisional play on Tuesday, Oct. 29, when it hosts rival Barton at Amon Field with kick-off set for 5 p.m.
